Rusk County
Wisconsin — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 37th
Rusk County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 37.3, 37th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and lightning exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | Medium | 8.74 / yr | $4M |
| Lightning | Low | 32.52 / yr | $192K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.29 / yr | $5M |
| Hail | Low | 2.28 / yr | $159K |
| Drought | Low | 2.82 / yr | $35K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.28 / yr | $589K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 16.58 / yr | $28K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 1.63 / yr | $112K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.83 / yr | $222K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.26 / yr | $16K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $20 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Rusk County?
Rusk County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 37.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 37th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Rusk County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (Medium, $4M EAL), Lightning (Low, $192K EAL), Riverine Flood (Low, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Rusk County compare to other Wisconsin counties?
Rusk County ranks #59 of 72 Wisconsin counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Rusk County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.